The battle of authority within the Emperor and the Church.
The Mongolian invasion
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of popes challenged the authority of European monarchies.
Pope Gregory VII was one of the most prominent opponents of lay investiture during the Investiture Controversy in the 11th century. He believed that only the church had the authority to appoint bishops and saw lay investiture as an encroachment on the church's independence.
He is most famous for the role he played in the Investiture Controversy with Henry IV.
It was a confrontation between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy. Please see the link below.
Henry, as the king, thought that he should appoint bishops in his kingdom. The pope felt that only the pope could appoint bishops. It is known as the investiture controversy.
The Lay Investiture Controversy in medieval Europe was significant because it was a power struggle between the Pope and secular rulers over the appointment of church officials. This conflict highlighted the tension between religious and political authority, ultimately leading to the separation of church and state and the assertion of papal supremacy in matters of church governance.
the weakening and eventual break up of Germany. <----- Study Island
In the course of the Investiture Controversy, Henry IV had be excommunicated. In order to have the ban lifted, he went to see the Pope at Canossa to do penance. He stood in the snow three days, begging to be forgiven. Popular legend has him doing this barefoot. He was forgiven, but required to meet certain conditions, which he violated, and the problems continued. There is a link below to an article on the Investiture Controversy.
The conflict you are asking about is called the Investiture Controversy. There is a link below to an article on it.
Emperors and kings disagreed with the Popes over who should appoint bishops. The disagreement lead to the Investiture controversy.
Investiture